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The Fabricator December 2016
The Fabricator is North America's leading magazine for the metal forming and fabricating industry. The magazine delivers the news, technical articles, and case histories that enable fabricators to do their jobs more efficiently. The Fabricator has served the industry since 1970.
Perforated metal inspires creative play
- Dec 7, 2016
- Arc Welding
- Article
Balfour Brickner Early Childhood Center at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in Manhattan wanted a playground system suitable for the rooftop of the building that houses the center. The end result has the right look, plus durability and strength.
Reimagining the C-clamp
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 7, 2016
- Assembly and Joining
- Article
The C-clamp is easy to take for granted. It’s an unchanging, almost timeless part of the typical workbench. It works well enough—but for one structural analyst, it didn’t.
The need for estate planning: A sign 'o the times
- By Jonathan W. Michael, JD
- Dec 6, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
When Prince died, dealing with his estate wasn’t simple. Believe it or not, owners of metal fabrication and manufacturing businesses could learn a lot about how to preserve the value of their companies and other assets by studying the rock icon’s death.
Press brake bending basics: Proper measurement of formed parts
- By Steve Benson
- Dec 6, 2016
- Bending and Forming
- Article
Measuring hems, acute angles, and unparallel flanges isn’t difficult—if you have the right tools and dimensional information, and you know how to use both properly.
Metal fabrication in a small shop: The hidden blessing of having no space
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 5, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
As shop metrics go, sales per square foot is elegantly simple. One New England fab shop has a sales-per-sq.-ft. metric that’s twice the industry average. Its success shows how having so little space can be a blessing in disguise.
Metal fabrication improvement: Manage the gray area between operations
- By Jeff Sipes
- Dec 5, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
If you analyze the entire quote-to-cash cycle for an order, you’ll find that it spends most of its time in a gray area, sitting between operations—both on the shop floor and in the front office. So if a shop really wants to improve, it should tackle this gray area.
A foundation for company expansion
- By Dan Davis
- Dec 5, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
Anchor Investments has manufacturing companies located in two states, with the original being Anchor Fabrication in Fort Worth, Texas. It has had success bringing these acquisitions into the family because it has an ERP system that is flexible enough to match the operational style of the individual divisions, while also being able to deliver the necessary information for company management to make the correct strategic corporate decisions.
Finding the right laser for laser microwelding
- By Geoff Shannon
- Nov 30, 2016
- Laser Welding
- Article
Learning about the characteristics of laser microwelding and the different types of fiber lasers can help fabricators determine the best option for each application.
Airborne hazards in welding
- By Derek Baker
- Nov 30, 2016
- Safety
- Article
Selecting a respirator for welding is serious business. Choosing the wrong respirator for a job, or using it incorrectly, may cause serious health issues.
2017 metal fabrication forecast: Voyage into the unknown
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 29, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
Before the election, industry watchers predicted more of the same slow growth the economy has seen for years. After the election, stock markets unexpectedly soared on the backs of companies that may benefit from a Trump presidency. One thing is for sure: The American political sphere heads into the unknown.
Industry innovations at EuroBLECH 2016 reflect the need for speed
- By Rob Colman
- Nov 29, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
At EuroBLECH 2016 the world’s machine tool makers and software developers showcased innovations aimed at reducing the time between part conceptualization and final delivery to the customer.
The 3 challenges of managing welding fumes
- By Jeremiah Wann
- Nov 29, 2016
- Safety
- Article
Welding fumes should be a real concern for fabricating shop owners. By understanding what types of materials they are dealing with, the explosive nature of metal dust, and the proper ventilation system needed to control the fumes, shop owners can keep their employees safe and focused on the job.
Pressure matters in abrasive waterjet cutting
- By Pradeep Nambiath, Ph.D.
- Nov 29, 2016
- Waterjet Cutting
- Article
Abrasive waterjet pump technology continues to evolve toward higher pressures. Within the pump’s design limits, the higher the pressure, the faster the abrasive moves, and the faster you can cut.
Aligning with OSHA
- By Dave Knoll
- Nov 28, 2016
- Safety
- Article
Safety improvement for Anderson Dahlen was not an overnight event. It took a couple of shocking incidents and the willingness to work with, not against, the state’s safety regulatory agency before a significant change in the company’s safety culture took place.
Structural fabrication, the next generation
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 28, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
Structural fabrication is on the cusp of some big changes, and the entry-level employee of today will grow in a field that’s becoming increasingly digitized.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 05/07/2024
- Running Time:
- 67:38
Patrick Brunken, VP of Addison Machine Engineering, joins The Fabricator Podcast to talk about the tube and pipe...
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- Industry Events
Laser Welding Certificate Course
- May 7 - August 6, 2024
- Farmington Hills, IL
World-Class Roll Forming Workshop
- June 5 - 6, 2024
- Louisville, KY
Advanced Laser Application Workshop
- June 25 - 27, 2024
- Novi, MI
Precision Press Brake Certificate Course
- July 31 - August 1, 2024
- Elgin,
- Upcoming Webcasts
Navigating Change: The Manufacturer’s Guide to Change Management with ERP Implementation
- May 16, 2024
- Sponsored
- Presented By: ECI Software Solutions, M1
Managing Dangerous Dusts from Metalworking
- June 26, 2024
- Sponsored
- Presented By: Camfil Air Pollution Control